Reformed Forum

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss Louis Berkhof’s little book, Summary of Christian Doctrine. On today’s episode, under the larger section, “The Doctrine of the Last Things,” we begin to discuss chapter XXIX, "The Second Coming of Christ."

Explore the intricate relationship between the Trinity and salvation as outlined in Ephesians 1. Discover how the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit work together to bestow spiritual blessings on believers. Delve into the doctrine of eternal election, emphasizing God's unconditional love in choosing individuals for salvation. This discussion highlights that true holiness and acceptance come from divine grace rather than human effort, ultimately magnifying God's grace in the salvation narrative.

In this episode, we consider the profound theological insights of Geerhardus Vos as found in pp. 355–360 of his Biblical Theology. Camden Bucey and Lane Tipton explore the Johannine concept of truth, which transcends human-centered definitions like coherence or correspondence theories. Instead, John presents truth as an intrinsic, divine attribute embodied in the Logos, Jesus Christ, and rooted in heavenly realities. The discussion highlights how Jesus is both the fulfillment and culmination of the Old Testament, uniting Christocentrism and Christotelism to show that all Scripture points to him. From heavenly realities and earthly shadows to worship in Spirit and truth, the episode unpacks the eschatological depth of John’s Gospel and the organic unity of God’s redemptive revelation. We also reflect on Jesus’ own hermeneutic, his attitude toward Scripture as the “most orthodox of the orthodox,” and how his approach undergirds the Reformation’s emphasis on the open access of Scripture to all people. This rich conversation will deepen your understanding of biblical theology, worship, and the relationship between the Old and New Testaments. Join us as we uncover how Christ is not only the center but also the goal of all Scripture, illuminating God’s unified message of redemption across the ages. Chapters 00:07 Introduction 05:27 Upcoming Oklahoma City Seminar 10:12 True and Truth in the Gospel of John 19:57 Heavenly Realities and Earthly Shadows 31:47 Jesus' Attitude toward the Old Testament 35:16 Christo-Centrism and Christotelism 47:28 The Fulfillment of the Scriptures 55:26 Conclusion

Dive into the profound topic of God's unconditional election, exploring the contrasting fates of Jacob and Esau. Discover how humility plays a pivotal role in understanding divine grace, with the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector shedding light on our need for mercy. The discussion emphasizes the significance of gratitude and worship in genuine faith as rooted in Calvinist beliefs. Join the conversation as it challenges perspectives while fostering deeper theological understanding.

Join us as we reflect on 2024 and look forward to what’s ahead for Reformed Forum in 2025! This livestream covers key updates, including: 📖 End-of-Year Wrap-Up We share the results of our Equipped to Grow campaign, inspired by 2 Peter 3:18. Together, we’ve made significant progress toward our goals and reached supporters across 12 countries!  🌐 Website Improvements We’re working on a redesigned homepage and menu, part of our effort to make our distinctively Reformed and redemptive-historical resources more accessible to everyone.  📚 Forthcoming Publications Exciting updates on upcoming books, including Discovering Christ in All of Scripture, God’s Gift of Himself, and Union with Christ: The Benefits of His Suffering and Glory.  📅 Upcoming Events Mark your calendars for our Orange County meetup on January 25, 2025 and a special event in Oklahoma City on February 21–22, 2025. We’re eager to share these updates and continue pursuing our mission to support the church in presenting every person mature in Christ. Watch a recording of the stream at https://youtube.com/live/DBZiM6CtGE0

In this episode, we look back upon the year and highlight clips from our ten most watched videos. 00:00:07 Introduction 00:04:14 Adonis Vidu — Exploring the Doctrine of Inseparable Operations 00:11:17 Aaron Renn — Life in the Negative World 00:15:15 Harrison Perkins — Exploring Covenant Theology among the Theological Disciplines 00:24:11 Van Til Group #13 — Roman Catholic and Evangelical Views of Sin and Human Consciousness 00:34:09 Iain Wright and Yannick Imbert — Reclaiming the “Dark Ages” 00:41:49 Greg Beale — Union with the Resurrected Christ  00:48:15 David Hall — Irony and the PCA 00:52:13 Cornelis Van Dam — Considering the Historicity of Genesis 1 and 2  00:55:21 Greg Beale and Ben Gladd — Dictionary of the NT Use of the OT  00:57:41 Alan Strange, Darryl Hart, Nick Willborn, and Timon Cline — Politics, Culture, and the Spiritual Mission of the Church 01:11:49 Conclusion

This is the fourth lesson in Dr. Lane G. Tipton’s Reformed Academy course, Calvinism: The Plan of Salvation. This lesson covers the following topics: 0:00 On What Basis Does God Save? (Universalism vs. Particularism) 3:10 Remonstrant Arminianism 8:37 Wesleyan Arminianism 18:05 Post-Reformation Lutheranism 27:39 Particularism or Calvinism 32:03 Conditional vs. Unconditional Election 33:45 Two Basic Truths Register for this free on-demand course on our website to track your progress, download supplemental materials, and assess your understanding through quizzes for each lesson. You will also receive free access to twenty-four additional five-hour video courses in covenant theology, apologetics, biblical studies, church history, and more: https://reformedforum.org/courses/calvinism-the-plan-of-salvation/ Your donations enable us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you all across the world: https://reformedforum.org/donate/  #Calvinism #salvation #reformedtheology

Join us for the Reformed Forum Christmas Extravaganza 2024, a four-hour special filled with lively theological discussion, reflections on the past year, and a look ahead to what’s in store for 2025. Hosted by Camden Bucey, this festive livestream features contributions from regular panelists Lane Tipton, Bob Tarullo, Jim Cassidy, Carlton Wynne, and special guests like Ruth Huang, a Mid-America Reformed Seminary student working on translating Reformed resources into Chinese. Explore topics ranging from the state of the church worldwide to the joys and challenges of ministry in different cultural contexts. Enjoy special segments with Pamela York performing jazz piano, Kurt Vetterli sharing insights on ministry in Switzerland, and James Chu discussing the challenges and opportunities for ministry in the Philippines. These moments provide a global perspective on the Reformed faith and the work of the church across cultures. Plus, enjoy games, giveaways, and reflections on Reformed theology, all delivered with the warmth and camaraderie of the Reformed Forum community. Whether you’re a long-time listener or discovering us for the first time, this episode captures the heart of our mission: to equip believers to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Visit ReformedForum.org/donate to support our year-end campaign and help us continue providing free theological resources worldwide. Chapters 00:00:00 Sponsor: Five More Talents 00:01:04 Introduction 00:33:58 Ruth Huang and the Church in Asia 01:08:04 Steve Schmidt Hosts Wits & Wagers 01:44:12 Joe Cristman’s Top Books of 2024 02:18:56 Ministry and Campaign Update with Ryan Noha 02:28:38 Pamela York Plays Jazz 02:47:56 Kurt Vetterli on Ministry in Switzerland 03:11:19 Brad Isbell with the Top Stories of 2024 03:29:35 James Chu on Ministry in the Philippines 03:59:05 Wrap-Up and Announcement of Giveaway Winners

For our Ninth Annual Christmas Special, Rob and Bob are here to bring you Christmas cheer with our annual Christmas silliness. This year we talk about the historical Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, otherwise known as St. Nicholas, and how the faithful defender of the faith has been transformed into Santa Claus. Of course, we do this with our traditional laughter and hysterics. More seriously, friends, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you. Thank you for listening to Theology Simply Profound. We very much appreciate your ongoing support.

This is the third lesson in Dr. Lane G. Tipton’s Reformed Academy course, Calvinism: The Plan of Salvation. This lesson covers the following topics: 0:00 Who Saves? (Naturalism vs. Supernaturalism) 2:58 Pelagianism 6:58 Socinianism 8:49 Classical Liberalism 11:35 How does God Save? (Sacerdotalism) 19:17 Protestantism Register for this free on-demand course on our website to track your progress, download supplemental materials, and assess your understanding through quizzes for each lesson. You will also receive free access to twenty-four additional five-hour video courses in covenant theology, apologetics, biblical studies, church history, and more: https://reformedforum.org/courses/calvinism-the-plan-of-salvation/ Your donations enable us to provide free Reformed resources for students like you all across the world: https://reformedforum.org/donate/  #Calvinism #salvation #reformedtheology